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Labeled as a student activist and dished out a decade-long ban from attending any universities in Sudan, Sam Lole was forced to leave his home.

Thirsting for knowledge, he moved to South Africa to obtain his degree in sociology and developmental studies. Upon completion, Lole wished to return home but the ban placed upon him was still in place, so he made the move to Edmonton where his cousin lived — leaving behind his three brothers and sister who remain in Sudan.

He immediately began studying for a master’s degree in conflict resolution and peacebuilding at the University of Victoria. Currently, Lole attends Walden University pursuing a doctorate in public policy.

Like the other 3,000 South Sudanese living in Edmonton, Lole is watching intently as conflicts back home have left over 1,000 dead, and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.

This latest news is a far cry from the jubilance the Edmonton-South Sudanese community embraced in 2011 when their homeland, recognized as the world’s youngest country, became an independent state following a decades-long war that ended in 2005.

“The South Sudanese community in Edmonton was very happy and joyful,” said Lole. “But then things started changing, because since independence, there has been very little movement as to some of the democratic changes that are supposed to be put in place.”

Fighting began in mid-December following dissention within the government’s ruling party — particularly between President Salva Kiir and ousted Vice President Riek Machar, who was let go in July 2013.

Machar and his supporters have been accused of leading a coup to oust Kiir, but those calls are in dispute. Some ruling party officials claim the violence began when the presidential guard illegally disarmed a group of rebels supporting Machar.

Furthermore, anger surrounds the lack of consultation made when writing the country’s constitution, which Lole describes as a “transitional constitution”.

Violence has since spread across the nation. A ceasefire was called on Dec. 31, but Lole says it’s not being enforced.

“The ceasefire that was called is basically in principle — there are no real mechanisms in place to enforce it,’ said Lole.

Peace talks are currently being held in neighbouring Ethiopia, but recent comments made by Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in support of Kiir have sullied efforts.

Elections are set to take place in 2015. Lole is optimistic the conflicts will be resolved in time, but insists significant strides and concessions need to be made before a peace can be reached.

“I believe it might take longer than we would hope to, but it will eventually come to an end,” said Lole. “Those two claims (coup, disarmament) are very difficult to reconcile, so both of them will have to step back from those positions for effective negotiations to take place.”

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Sudanese Edmontonian looks on as violence continues in home country

Labeled as a student activist and dished out a decade-long ban from attending any universities in Sudan, Sam Lole was forced to leave his home.

Thirsting for knowledge, he moved to South Africa to obtain his degree in sociology and developmental studies. Upon completion, Lole wished to return home but the ban placed upon him was still in place, so he made the move to Edmonton where his cousin lived — leaving behind his three brothers and sister who remain in Sudan.

He immediately began studying for a master’s degree in conflict resolution and peacebuilding at the University of Victoria. Currently, Lole attends Walden University pursuing a doctorate in public policy.

Like the other 3,000 South Sudanese living in Edmonton, Lole is watching intently as conflicts back home have left over 1,000 dead, and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.